Ara Parseghian
Encyclopedia
Ara Raoul Parseghian is a former American football
player and coach of Armenian descent. He served as the head football coach at Miami University
(1951–1955), Northwestern University
(1956–1963), and the University of Notre Dame
(1964–1974), compiling a career college football
record of 170–58–6. During his 11 seasons as head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish
, known popularly as "the Era of Ara," Parseghian tallied a mark of 95–17–4 record for a .836 winning percentage. His teams of 1966
and 1973
won national titles
. Parseghian was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
as a coach in 1980.
during World War II
, Parseghian played halfback
at Miami University
. He was drafted in the 13th round of the 1947 NFL Draft
by the Pittsburgh Steelers
, but did not attempt to make the roster and later signed with the Cleveland Browns
. He played running back
and defensive back
during 1948 and 1949 before an injury ended his playing career. With the Browns he had 44 carries for 166 yards, three receptions for 33 yards, scored two touchdowns, and intercepted one pass.
at Miami University in 1950, then was elevated to head coach the following year when Hayes left to assume the head coaching job at Ohio State University
. Parseghian stayed at his alma mater through the 1955 season, compiling a 39–6–1 record, when he was hired by Northwestern University
.
team and he held that position for eight seasons, from 1956 until 1963. His career coaching record at Northwestern was 36–35–1. This ranks him third at Northwestern in total wins and ninth at Northwestern in winning percentage. During his tenure at Northwestern, the Wildcats renewed their series with Notre Dame
after a decade-long hiatus. Parseghian's teams defeated the Irish four straight times.
Following a 5–4 season in 1963, a falling out with Northwestern athletic director Stu Holcomb
prompted Parseghian to contact Father Edmund P. Joyce, vice president and chairman of the faculty board in control of athletics at the University of Notre Dame
. Parseghian inquired about Hugh Devore
's status as interim head football coach and when Father Joyce affirmed that the University was searching for a new coach, he expressed his interest in the job. Parseghian's candidacy for the head coaching job at Notre Dame was notable for two reasons. First, he was not a Notre Dame graduate, as every head coach since Knute Rockne
had been. Second, Parseghian was Presbyterian and not Roman Catholic, although Rockne (who converted in 1923), Jesse Harper
and Edward McKeever
were not Catholics either. After an undisclosed initial disagreement, Parseghian was hired as Notre Dame's 22nd head coach, inheriting a team that had finished 2–7 in 1963 and taking it to within 1:33 of an undefeated season and a national championship
in 1964.
Parseghian discovered talent in quarterback
John Huarte
and end Jack Snow. The tandem set numerous school passing and receiving records and Huarte won the Heisman Trophy
in 1964. Parseghian did away with all ornamentation on his players' uniforms, eliminating the shamrocks and shoulder stripes, and switched the team's home jerseys to navy blue. During his tenure, the Irish never wore green jerseys.
During the Era of Ara, the Irish won two national championships in 1966 and 1973, and the 1964 team was also awarded the MacArthur Trophy
. In 1969, the Notre Dame administration changed its policy that had forbidden the team from playing in bowl game
s. Parseghian led the team to its first bowl game since Rockne coached the team, the 1970 Cotton Bowl Classic
, losing 21–17 to the eventual national champion Texas Longhorns
. The Irish avenged that loss in the 1971 Cotton Bowl Classic, defeating the Longhorns, 24–11.
Parseghian's tenure also included a number of controversial episodes. He was accused of playing for a tie against Michigan State in 1966 in one of the most noted games in college football history. Parseghian defended his strategy by maintaining that several key starters had been knocked out of action early in the game and that he did not want to spoil a courageous comeback from a 10–0 deficit by risking a turnover deep in his own territory late in the game that could hand the game to the Spartans. When Parseghian's team beat USC, 51–0, the following week, critics alleged that he ran up the score, even though two of Notre Dame's touchdowns were the result of interception returns, to impress poll voters who had split the number one ranking between Notre Dame and Michigan State following the tie. Subsequent to the USC rout, the final wire service polls did in fact vote the national championship to Parseghian's team.
In 1973, Parseghian had the perfect season that had previously eluded him, topped off by a 24–23 win over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl
. He considered retiring after that game, but later decided to stay on. The Irish were set to return most of their starters back in 1974 and were favored to repeat as national champions. Then six players were suspended for violating school rules and several other key players were injured. An upset loss to underdog Purdue
all but derailed the team's hopes to repeat as national champions. All of this, combined with the ever-present pressure to win took its toll, and he privately decided after the eighth game to resign at the end of the season for the sake of his health. However, his resignation was not publicized until mid-December. With Notre Dame's 13–11 win in a rematch against Alabama in the Orange Bowl
, Parseghian retired on a winning note. He was succeeded by Dan Devine
.
Parseghian planned to take one year off from coaching and see if he still "felt the itch" to return afterwards. He ruled out taking a sabbatical leave from Notre Dame, feeling that it would be unfair to have an assistant run the program, only to have to step aside after one year. Since he regarded Notre Dame as the pinnacle of collegiate coaching jobs, he would only entertain offers from the pros. His last coaching appearance was with the College All-Stars against the defending Super Bowl
champion Pittsburgh Steelers
on July 24, 1976 at Chicago
's Soldier Field
. The game was halted in the second half when a torrential thunderstorm broke out and play was never resumed. It was the last such game ever played.
During Parseghian's tenure at Notre Dame, the school's long-dormant football rivalry with Michigan
was revived. Although the two schools are located within 200 miles of one another, and despite the fact that players from Michigan had introduced the game of football to students at Notre Dame in 1887, they had not met on the gridiron since 1943. While athletic directors Moose Krause and Don Canham
were credited for reaching an agreement to resume the series, Parseghian's friendship with Wolverine head coach Bo Schembechler
figured as well. Parshegian and Schembechler were teammates at Miami University
and Schembechler served on Parshegian's staff at Northwestern in 1956 and 1957. Parseghian never coached against Schembechler since Michigan and Notre Dame did not meet on the field again until 1978.
from 1975 to 1981 and for CBS Sports from 1982 to 1988.
Parseghian's career record was 170–58–6. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
in 1980, the Indiana Football Hall of Fame
in 1984, and the Cotton Bowl Classic Hall of Fame in 2007 and was named an honorary Notre Dame alumnus in 1974. He is also a member of the Miami University Athletic Hall of Fame.
He served as one of two honorary coaches along with Lou Holtz
in Notre Dame's 2007 Spring Game. Holtz's Gold Team defeated Parseghian's Blue team, 10–6.
In 2007 Notre Dame unveiled a statue in his honor, which depicts players carrying him off the field in triumph following the 1971 Cotton Bowl Classic.
In 2011, Miami University
also unveiled a statue in his honor to add to the RedHawk's Cradle of Coaches statues. It shows him wearing a Notre Dame sweater as he kneels and looks ahead to the field.
Parseghian founded the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation which is seeking a cure for Niemann-Pick disease
Type C (NP-C), a genetic, pediatric, neurodegenerative disorder responsible for the build-up of cholesterol in cells, resulting in eventual damage to the nervous system. Three of his grandchildren, Michael, Marcia, and Christa Parseghian, died from this disease. He is also active in the cause to find a cure for multiple sclerosis; his daughter, Karan, was diagnosed with the disease. He is portrayed by his late friend Jason Miller
in the film Rudy
.
* Note: before the 1974 season, the final Coaches' Poll, also known then as the UPI
Poll, was released before the bowl game
s, so a team that lost its bowl game could still claim the UPI national championship
. This was changed as a result of Alabama winning the 1973 Coaches' Poll national championship despite losing to Notre Dame
in the Sugar Bowl
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and coach of Armenian descent. He served as the head football coach at Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
(1951–1955), Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
(1956–1963), and the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
(1964–1974), compiling a career college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
record of 170–58–6. During his 11 seasons as head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
, known popularly as "the Era of Ara," Parseghian tallied a mark of 95–17–4 record for a .836 winning percentage. His teams of 1966
1966 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team
The 1966 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame during the 1966 college football season. The Irish, coached by Ara Parseghian, ended the season undefeated with 9 wins and one tie, winning the national championship...
and 1973
1973 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team
The 1973 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame during the 1973 college football season. The Irish, coached by Ara Parseghian, ended the season undefeated with 11 wins and no losses, winning the national championship...
won national titles
NCAA Division I FBS National Football Championship
A college football national championship in the highest level of collegiate play in the United States, currently the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , is a designation awarded annually by various third-party organizations to their selection of the best...
. Parseghian was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
as a coach in 1980.
Playing career
After serving in the United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Parseghian played halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
at Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
. He was drafted in the 13th round of the 1947 NFL Draft
1947 NFL Draft
The 1947 National Football League Draft was held on December 16, 1946.The National Football League in this draft made the first overall pick a bonus pick determined by lottery. The Chicago Bears won the first lottery...
by the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
, but did not attempt to make the roster and later signed with the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He played running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
and defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
during 1948 and 1949 before an injury ended his playing career. With the Browns he had 44 carries for 166 yards, three receptions for 33 yards, scored two touchdowns, and intercepted one pass.
Miami University
Parseghian launched his coaching career as freshman team coach under Woody HayesWoody Hayes
Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Denison University , Miami University , and Ohio State University , compiling a career college football record of 238–72–10.During his 28 seasons as the head coach of the Ohio...
at Miami University in 1950, then was elevated to head coach the following year when Hayes left to assume the head coaching job at Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
. Parseghian stayed at his alma mater through the 1955 season, compiling a 39–6–1 record, when he was hired by Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
.
Northwestern
Parseghian was the 20th head coach for the Northwestern Wildcats footballNorthwestern Wildcats football
The Northwestern Wildcats football team, representing Northwestern University, is a NCAA Division I team and member of the Big Ten Conference, with evidence of organization in 1876...
team and he held that position for eight seasons, from 1956 until 1963. His career coaching record at Northwestern was 36–35–1. This ranks him third at Northwestern in total wins and ninth at Northwestern in winning percentage. During his tenure at Northwestern, the Wildcats renewed their series with Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
after a decade-long hiatus. Parseghian's teams defeated the Irish four straight times.
Notre Dame
Stu Holcomb
Stuart K. Holcomb was an American football and basketball coach best known for serving as head football coach for Miami University and Purdue University . Before coaching, Holcomb was a starting halfback at Ohio State University and the captain of the 1931 Buckeyes football team...
prompted Parseghian to contact Father Edmund P. Joyce, vice president and chairman of the faculty board in control of athletics at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
. Parseghian inquired about Hugh Devore
Hugh Devore
Hugh John Devore was a football player and coach whose close connection to the University of Notre Dame saw him serve in both capacities, while also seeing time as head coach at two other colleges as well as the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles.-Early career:Devore was born and...
's status as interim head football coach and when Father Joyce affirmed that the University was searching for a new coach, he expressed his interest in the job. Parseghian's candidacy for the head coaching job at Notre Dame was notable for two reasons. First, he was not a Notre Dame graduate, as every head coach since Knute Rockne
Knute Rockne
Knute Kenneth Rockne was an American football player and coach. He is regarded as one of the greatest coaches in college football history...
had been. Second, Parseghian was Presbyterian and not Roman Catholic, although Rockne (who converted in 1923), Jesse Harper
Jesse Harper
-External links:* * at College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com...
and Edward McKeever
Edward McKeever
Edward Clark Timothy McKeever was an American football player, coach, and executive. He served as the head football coach at the University of Notre Dame and Cornell University and the University of San Francisco , compiling a career college football record of 25–12–1...
were not Catholics either. After an undisclosed initial disagreement, Parseghian was hired as Notre Dame's 22nd head coach, inheriting a team that had finished 2–7 in 1963 and taking it to within 1:33 of an undefeated season and a national championship
NCAA Division I FBS National Football Championship
A college football national championship in the highest level of collegiate play in the United States, currently the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , is a designation awarded annually by various third-party organizations to their selection of the best...
in 1964.
Parseghian discovered talent in quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
John Huarte
John Huarte
John Gregory Huarte is a former American football quarterback and the 1964 Heisman Trophy winner.-Early years:Huarte played for the University of Notre Dame after graduating from Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California. During his sophomore and junior years at Notre Dame, he played for...
and end Jack Snow. The tandem set numerous school passing and receiving records and Huarte won the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
in 1964. Parseghian did away with all ornamentation on his players' uniforms, eliminating the shamrocks and shoulder stripes, and switched the team's home jerseys to navy blue. During his tenure, the Irish never wore green jerseys.
During the Era of Ara, the Irish won two national championships in 1966 and 1973, and the 1964 team was also awarded the MacArthur Trophy
MacArthur Trophy
The MacArthur Trophy is a trophy awarded annually by the National Football Foundation to the NCAA Division I-FBS college football team or teams determined to be the national champion. There is only one trophy itself, much like the Stanley Cup, and it is kept by the winning institution for one year...
. In 1969, the Notre Dame administration changed its policy that had forbidden the team from playing in bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
s. Parseghian led the team to its first bowl game since Rockne coached the team, the 1970 Cotton Bowl Classic
1970 Cotton Bowl Classic
The 1970 Cotton Bowl Classic was a postseason college football bowl game between the Texas Longhorns and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Texas won the game, 21–17, and secured its second consensus National Championship in school history.-External links:...
, losing 21–17 to the eventual national champion Texas Longhorns
1969 Texas Longhorns football team
The 1969 Texas Longhorns football team represented the University of Texas at Austin in the 1969 college football season. The Longhorns won all of their games to finish 11-0 and win their second consensus National Championship in school history...
. The Irish avenged that loss in the 1971 Cotton Bowl Classic, defeating the Longhorns, 24–11.
Parseghian's tenure also included a number of controversial episodes. He was accused of playing for a tie against Michigan State in 1966 in one of the most noted games in college football history. Parseghian defended his strategy by maintaining that several key starters had been knocked out of action early in the game and that he did not want to spoil a courageous comeback from a 10–0 deficit by risking a turnover deep in his own territory late in the game that could hand the game to the Spartans. When Parseghian's team beat USC, 51–0, the following week, critics alleged that he ran up the score, even though two of Notre Dame's touchdowns were the result of interception returns, to impress poll voters who had split the number one ranking between Notre Dame and Michigan State following the tie. Subsequent to the USC rout, the final wire service polls did in fact vote the national championship to Parseghian's team.
In 1973, Parseghian had the perfect season that had previously eluded him, topped off by a 24–23 win over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl
Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since January 1, 1935, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 2, 2009...
. He considered retiring after that game, but later decided to stay on. The Irish were set to return most of their starters back in 1974 and were favored to repeat as national champions. Then six players were suspended for violating school rules and several other key players were injured. An upset loss to underdog Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
all but derailed the team's hopes to repeat as national champions. All of this, combined with the ever-present pressure to win took its toll, and he privately decided after the eighth game to resign at the end of the season for the sake of his health. However, his resignation was not publicized until mid-December. With Notre Dame's 13–11 win in a rematch against Alabama in the Orange Bowl
Orange Bowl
The Orange Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. It has been played annually since January 1, 1935 and celebrated its 75th playing on January 1, 2009...
, Parseghian retired on a winning note. He was succeeded by Dan Devine
Dan Devine
Daniel John Devine was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach football coach at Arizona State University from 1955 to 1957, the University of Missouri from 1958 to 1970, and the University of Notre Dame from 1975 to 1980, compiling a career college football mark of...
.
Parseghian planned to take one year off from coaching and see if he still "felt the itch" to return afterwards. He ruled out taking a sabbatical leave from Notre Dame, feeling that it would be unfair to have an assistant run the program, only to have to step aside after one year. Since he regarded Notre Dame as the pinnacle of collegiate coaching jobs, he would only entertain offers from the pros. His last coaching appearance was with the College All-Stars against the defending Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
champion Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
on July 24, 1976 at Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
's Soldier Field
Soldier Field
Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...
. The game was halted in the second half when a torrential thunderstorm broke out and play was never resumed. It was the last such game ever played.
During Parseghian's tenure at Notre Dame, the school's long-dormant football rivalry with Michigan
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
was revived. Although the two schools are located within 200 miles of one another, and despite the fact that players from Michigan had introduced the game of football to students at Notre Dame in 1887, they had not met on the gridiron since 1943. While athletic directors Moose Krause and Don Canham
Don Canham
Donald Canham was a track and field athlete and coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the athletic director at the University of Michigan from 1968 to 1988. There, he became nationally renowned for his ability to market and sell products bearing the name or logo of the school...
were credited for reaching an agreement to resume the series, Parseghian's friendship with Wolverine head coach Bo Schembechler
Bo Schembechler
Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler, Jr. was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989, compiling a career record of 234–65–8...
figured as well. Parshegian and Schembechler were teammates at Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
and Schembechler served on Parshegian's staff at Northwestern in 1956 and 1957. Parseghian never coached against Schembechler since Michigan and Notre Dame did not meet on the field again until 1978.
Later life
After leaving Notre Dame, Parseghian entered private business. He also served as a color analyst for ABC SportsCollege Football on ABC
ESPN College Football on ABC presented by Kay Jewelers is a presentation of the American Broadcasting Company's regular season American college football television package...
from 1975 to 1981 and for CBS Sports from 1982 to 1988.
Parseghian's career record was 170–58–6. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 1980, the Indiana Football Hall of Fame
Indiana Football Hall of Fame
The Indiana Football Hall of Fame is a sports museum and hall of fame in Richmond, Indiana. It honors persons associated with high school, college and professional American football in Indiana. It also works to establish scholarships and endowments to promote football in the state of Indiana...
in 1984, and the Cotton Bowl Classic Hall of Fame in 2007 and was named an honorary Notre Dame alumnus in 1974. He is also a member of the Miami University Athletic Hall of Fame.
He served as one of two honorary coaches along with Lou Holtz
Lou Holtz
Louis Leo "Lou" Holtz is a retired American football coach, and active sportscaster, author, and motivational speaker in the United States...
in Notre Dame's 2007 Spring Game. Holtz's Gold Team defeated Parseghian's Blue team, 10–6.
In 2007 Notre Dame unveiled a statue in his honor, which depicts players carrying him off the field in triumph following the 1971 Cotton Bowl Classic.
In 2011, Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
also unveiled a statue in his honor to add to the RedHawk's Cradle of Coaches statues. It shows him wearing a Notre Dame sweater as he kneels and looks ahead to the field.
Personal life
Parseghian is married to the former Kathleen Davis. They are parents of three children.Parseghian founded the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation which is seeking a cure for Niemann-Pick disease
Niemann-Pick disease
Niemann–Pick disease refers to a group of fatal inherited metabolic disorders that are included in the larger family of lysosomal storage diseases .-Signs and symptoms:Symptoms are related to the organs in which they accumulate...
Type C (NP-C), a genetic, pediatric, neurodegenerative disorder responsible for the build-up of cholesterol in cells, resulting in eventual damage to the nervous system. Three of his grandchildren, Michael, Marcia, and Christa Parseghian, died from this disease. He is also active in the cause to find a cure for multiple sclerosis; his daughter, Karan, was diagnosed with the disease. He is portrayed by his late friend Jason Miller
Jason Miller (playwright)
Jason Miller was an American actor and playwright. He received the 1973 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play That Championship Season, and was widely recognized for his role as Father Damien Karras in the 1973 horror film The Exorcist...
in the film Rudy
Rudy (film)
Rudy is a 1993 American sports film directed by David Anspaugh. It is an account of the life of Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger, who harbored dreams of playing football at the University of Notre Dame despite significant obstacles...
.
Head coaching record
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
Poll, was released before the bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
s, so a team that lost its bowl game could still claim the UPI national championship
NCAA Division I FBS National Football Championship
A college football national championship in the highest level of collegiate play in the United States, currently the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , is a designation awarded annually by various third-party organizations to their selection of the best...
. This was changed as a result of Alabama winning the 1973 Coaches' Poll national championship despite losing to Notre Dame
1973 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team
The 1973 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame during the 1973 college football season. The Irish, coached by Ara Parseghian, ended the season undefeated with 11 wins and no losses, winning the national championship...
in the Sugar Bowl
Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since January 1, 1935, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 2, 2009...
.
Sources
- Pagna, Tom, "Notre Dame's Era of Ara" (Diamond Communications, Inc., South Bend, IN, 1976) ISBN 0-912083-74-3
- ESPN College Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Game (ESPN Books, New York, NY, 2005) ISBN 1-4013-3703-1